Feed mechanism for knitting



Dec. 12, 1933. H. SWINGLEHURST FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, I932 Dec. 12, 1933.

H. SWINGLEHURST FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 9, 1932 Iill 5 L11 0'0 fiwenlor lei r27" Dec. 12, 1933. H.SWINGLEHURST FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMarch 9, 1932 Patented Dec. 12, 1933 FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTINGMACHINES Harry Swinglchnrst, Orange, N. J., assignor to Scott aWilliams, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of MassachusettsApplication March 9, 1932. Serial No. 597,721

20 Claims. (CL 66-133) This invention pertains to knittingmachines,being concerned with devices for feeding yarns to the knittinginstrumentalities, and 1 especially relating to feeding means of thekind 5 designed to permit yarn interchange or the substitution of oneyarn for another at the feed point. Modern knitting machines,particularly hosiery machines, are commonly provided with a plurality ofindependent yarn guides, often as many as six, adapted respectively todeliver yarn of different size, quality, material, color, etc., for useeither singly or in appropriate combination or relation in knittingdifi'erent parts of a stocking, the several yarn guides usually beingselectively controlled by appropriate pattern mechanism, for example,such as disclosed in the patent to Scott, No. 1,152,850, dated September'1,

In the attainment of pattern effects in the knitted structure (the termpattern effects being here employed as inclusive inter alia of suchcontrasting areas as high splices above the heel-reinforced or splicedheels, soles, etc.) it is common to have recourse to the expedient ofplating a body or facing yarn upon a backing orfsplicing yarn indefinite relation, and/or to substitute one yarn for another, theinitial taking of such backing or substituted yarn necessarily occurringaccurately in a certain predetermined wale or upon a definite needle ateach successive course in order sharply to define the border of thedesired patterned area. To secure such accuracy of taking of theentering yarn by a selected needle of the it is essential that thedelivery eye of; the yarn finger move to a delivery position very closeto the needle circle in order to splice the yarn accurately in betweenadjacent needles, Commonly the latch or guard ring orequivalentstructure of the machineis cut awayat the feed point to produce a throatopening within which the active yarn finger or fingers is located,

and usually this throat opening hasa fioor or throat plate serving as asupport upon which the active yarn guide rests with its delivery eye ina predetermined horizontal plane and close to the needle row'. Inpassing fromthe ,active yarn guide eye to the needle hooks, the 'yarnreeves over the edge of this floor or'throat plate so that .such edgeactually defines the delive y point for any given yarn. v

Since practical considerations make it necessary to give the individualyarn guide fingers some substantial lateral width, it is evident thatwhen more than one such guide finger is used,

the actual point of yarn delivery varies according to the guide whichatany given time is in operative position. For plating any given yarnupon another, such as a bodyor facing yarn or yarns on a splicing orbacking yarn, this relation is taken advantage of to produce thedifferent lead angles necessary to cause one yarn to enter the needlehook in accurately spaced relation to the other yarn so as to be platedthereon with certainty, but when it is desired to use more than onesuchsplicing or backing yarn alternatively, the above-noted relationcauses difliculty in that the delivery points for the several splicingor backing yarns are not ordinarily the same, and

thus the accuracy-of plating the body or facing yarn with one suchsplicing yarn, for example, may be destroyed. I am aware that-it hasheretofore been"pr0posed to provide the latch ring or its equivalentwith a yarn feed opening having a flaring mouth and so to dispose theseveral yarn guide members behind the ring as to cause the yarn from anyguide which is active to enter the feed opening through such flaringmouth so as to deliver to the needles from a single predetermined point,but this arrangement makes no provision for desirable difference in feedpoint between a body or facing yarn and the splicing or backing yarn,nor would it be practicable in most modern hosiery machines wherelimitations of space are often controlling.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide for theaccurate delivery to the needles, from substantially the same deliverypoint, of any ofa plurality of yarns, for instance, two splicing orbacking yarns which are used alternatively in the production, forexample, of contrasting patterning areas in the knitted fabric. Inparticular the present invention provides for the permissive use of yarnfeeding devices of a generally well known type in knitting hosiery,wherein a body or facing yarn has associated therewith, at differentparts of a stocking, either one, respectively, of a plurality of otheryarns knitted as backing or splicing yarns in plated relation to thefacing or body yarn. For example, the body orfacing yarn may be platedover a backing or splicing yarn to produce a tapered high splice, andover a second backing or splicing yarn in knitting a reinforced sole. I

Thus the invention may be found useful in making spliced structures of ageneral type such, for example, as that illustrated in the patent toPage, No. 1,726,410, August 27, 1929 or that illustratedin the patent toPaquette, No. 1,723,881,

August 6, 1929; or the split-foot structure disclosed in the patent toScott, No. 1,159,873, November 9, 1915.

While reference has been made to the plating of a single facing or bodyyarn over a backing or splicing yarn, it is to be understood that theinvention is equally applicable when a plurality of facing or body yarnsare employed, as is often done, and wherein one of such body yarns isknitted in plating relation to another, both being simultaneously platedover the splicing or backing yarn. Further, it is to be noted that whentwo yarns are fed in plating relation, each yarn is plated relatively tothe other, so that either yarn may be considered as a plating yarn, andthis term is to be understood with the meaning herein.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be described morefully hereinafter and will be apparent to those skilled in the art byreference to the appended drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentaryplan view, partly in section, of a knitting machine of knowncons'truction showing in particular novel features of yarn feedmechanism in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary horizontal section substantially on the line l-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig.1, but showing the splicing orbacking yarn guides in relatively reversed position, one of the guidesbebroken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the parts positioned as shownin Fig. 3;

Figure 4 is a section on the line i -4 of Figure 4;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modifiedconstruction;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5;

4 and 5 but illustrating a still further modification;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view of one of the splicing guides ofFig. 8 viewed from the inside of the needle circle;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing in plan the course of a singlebody or facing yarn and one of the splicing or backing yarns as theypass from their respective guides to the needles;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the first splicing orbacking guide out of action and broken away, and the second splicing orbacking guide in action;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a needle hook showing the relation of theyarn as delivered thereto by the guides of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, showing the relation in the needlehook of yarns fed as in Fi 12.

Referring to the drawings, the present invention is here illustrated forconvenience in description and by way of example as embodied in amachine of the general type more fully disclosed in the patent to ScottNo. 1,159,873, dated November 9, 1915, which prescribes sectionalsplicing mechanism of broad utility and in substantially parallelplanes.

capable, if desired, of producing a plurality of distinct spliced areascircumferentially of the knitted tube, for example, in split footknitting, and in the following description parts disclosed in saidpatent are designated by the same numerals as employed therein. It is tobe understood that whether the present invention be applied to a machinesuch as shown in the above patent or not, the machine in which it isembodied will comprise the usual knitting instrumentalities andactuating means, and that proper pattern controlled devices will beprovided for determining the proper sequence of operation of theknitting instrumentalities and for moving the several yarn guides intoand out of action. Acceptable means for moving the yarn guides into andout of action is disclosed in the patent to Scott just referred to.

In the present drawings the numeral 552 (Figs. 1 and 2) designates thepivotal support for the latch ring bracket carrying the latch ring 550,such latch ring having the usual throat opening provided with a floor orthroat plate 559, which constitutes a support for the active yarn guideor guides. The latch ring bracket is furnished with the upstanding part555 which carries the shaft or pivot member 554 upon which the severalyarn fingers F F F etc. are. pivoted so that they may swing verticallyThe several yarn fingers are provided with springs F convenientlyanchored to the pivot member 552 and tending to pull the several yarnfingers downwardly into active position where their delivery eyeportions rest upon the throat plate 559. The web holder bed 295 (Fig. 2)is provided with peripheral, segmental cams 296 and 296 (Figs. 2 and 4)disposed in different horizontal planes and such cams are adapted toactuate motion transmitting levers 601 and 602 respectively, pivotallysupported to move in horizontal planes, all as more fully described inthe aforementioned patent to Scott, No. 1,159,873. The several yarnfingers are moved out of active position by means of the thrust bars 460460*, etc., such thrust bars at their lower endsresting upon a suitablecam drum (not herein shown but described in the aforesaid patent) havingcams properly arranged to move the thrust bars up and allow them to dropin suitable sequence. The upper portions of these thrust bars passthrough a fixed guide comb 462 by means of which they are guided intheir movements. The thrust bar 460 corresponds to the yarn finger F andthe thrust bar 460* corresponds to the yarn finger F and the thrust barsjust mentioned are furnished respectively with projecting lugs a and badapted to cooperate with the levers 601 and 602 respectively, undercertain conditions of operation. The several yarn guide fingers areprovided with guide eyes E E E etc., near their free extremities, suchguide eyes exemplifying any suitable means for locating the deliverypoint of the yarn leading from the.

yarn finger and in fact constituting the yarn guides proper. In thepresent instance and by way of example, the guide eye E is intended tocarry a splicing yarn y (Fig. 11),-the guide eye E is intended to carrya second splicing yarn 11 (Fig. 12) ,-and the guide eye E carried by thethird finger F is designed to carry a body or facing yarn 11 Inaccordance with the presence invention, the yarn finger F which togetherwith the other fingers is pivoted on the shaft or pivotmember. 554, isprovided with a bearing opening 1 (Fig. 1*) which is preferablycountersunk inwardly from opposite faces, and the adjacent surfaces ofthis yarn guide finger F are beveled or reduced in thickness so as topermit the=finger to swing laterally, as well as to rock in the verticalplane; To the rear of its pivotal axis the finger F is furnished with atail 2, to which is secured one end of a spring 3 whose other end isanchored to a fixed bracket 4 conveniently secured to the upper end ofthe part 555. This spring constantly tends to swing the guide eye end ofthe finger F to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, respectively.'

Preferably the forward part of the finger F is provided with upper andlower cam surfaces ,6 and 5 respectively, (Figs. 2, 4 and 4), and ifdesired the finger F may be provided with complemental cam surfaces,although such surfaces on one of the cooperating fingers are usuallysufiicient.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the yarn finger F is down in its operative positionwith its eye portion resting upon the throat plate 559, this position ofthe yarn finger being permitted by the descent of its thrust bar 460".In thus descending, and as shown in Fig. 2, the lug a of this thrust barhas been brought. into the plane of the lever 601.

which at this time is shown as engaging a low into and out of action forsectional splicing by or inactive portion of the earn 296 on the webholder bed 295; -At the same time the thrust bar 460 has been raised,thus throwing the finger F up to its inoperative position. The yarnfinger F which carries the body or facing yarn is down'in its activeposition, while the yarn fingers to the right of the yarn finger F asviewed in Fig. l, and shown in broken lines are raised to theinoperative position. With the parts thus positioned, the splicing yarny (Fig. ll) will pass from the yarn guide eye E around the corner '7 ofthe throat opening and will enter the book of needle 11. (as shown inFig. 13) at the outer part of the hook, while the body or facing yarn 1passing from the guide eye E will engage the edge of the throat plate ata point somewhat spaced from the corner 7 and V by, through the lug a,to swing the upper end of the thrust bar 460*, thus moving the yarnfinger F temporarily into inactive position so that the splicing yarn11. will cease to be taken by the needles. This motion of the yarn guidefinger F into and out of action during a portion of a knitted course maybe caused to take place with great accuracy by the arrangements justdescribed, all as set forth more fully in the Scott Patent No-1,159,873, above referred to.

forward end of the finger F? to the left, as viewed in Fig. l and thusinto the path of movement of the forward end of the finger F but if thedownward movement of the finger F takes place concomitantly with theupward movement of the finger F the cam surface 5 of the finger F, byengagement with the upper part of the finger F will crowd the finger Fto the right so as to avoid interference between the fingers as theypass. As soon as the finger F is free to do so, it will swing (by theinfluence of the spring 3)- until its guide eye E is disposed in thevertical plane of movement of the guide eye E and as the finger Freaches its feeding position where it rests upon the throat plate 559,'its guide eye will occupy substantially the same identical positionthat the guide eye E occupied when the latter .was in feeding position.Thus, as shown in Fig. 12, the splicing yarn y will now pass around *thecorner 7 of the throat opening and will enter the needle hooks, as shownin Fig. 14 in the same relation to the body or facing yarn g as did thesplicing yarn y from the guide eye 13. Thus the-new splicing yarn y willcooperate in the same way with the body yarn 1 to produce a fabricwherein the body yarn is accurately plated over the splicing yarn. Asabove described in reference to the finger F the finger F may be thrownthe operation of the cam 296 'on the web holder bed 295, acting throughthe lever 602 on the lug b. Whenever the splicing yarns are to beexchanged and the finger F rises, the cam surface 6 of such finger willbe acted on by the finger F so as to crowd the finger F laterally intoits normal plane to prevent interference of the.

fingers as they pass. Furthermore, it is to be noted that if the fingerF be left down in its normal feeding position when the finger F islowered to feeding position, the latter will crowd the finger F out ofits way as it descends so that'both guide eyes E and E will be in normalfeeding position at once, resting on the throat plate 559. It is alsopossible to make sectional spliced areas employing the respectivesplicing yarns, each such spliced area extending through a portion ofthe same course the, fingers F and F being under control of the cams2963 and 296 respectively on the web holder bed.

Obviously, if it be desired, as is common, to use a plurality of bodyyarns plated one on the other, for example, a second body yarn inaddition to the yarn y another of the yarn guides,

for instance the fifth guide (not shown) from the left hand side of thethroat opening (Fig. 11) may be placed in delivery position to feed itsyarn simultaneously with the yarn 1,1 and the flselected splicing orbacking yarn.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive a second embodiment of the inventionis illustrated wherein corresponding parts are designated by the 'samereference numerals as above employed,

but in this arrangement the'finger F always remains ina planesubstantially parallel to the finger F However, the guide eye'portion 8of the finger F is made as a separate independent part from the bodyportion of the finger and is pivoted thereto by means of a pivot pin orequivalent device 9 (Fig. 6), which, when the finger is in its operativeposition, is preferably substantially vertical. A spring 10 secured atits opposite ends to the-body of the finger F and tothe part 8respectively, urges "the part 8 to the left, as viewed in Figs. 5 and.7, thus tending to place the guide eye E in the plane of movement ofthe finger F To prevent interference, between the guide eye portions'offingers F and F, the part 8 is provided with cam surfaces 13 and 14 andpreferably the finger F is furnished with complemental cam surfaces 11and 12, the cam surfaces acting in the same way as those previouslydescribed to crowd the part 8 of the finger F laterally out of the wayof the finger F as the fingers are moved into and out of operativeposition. With this arrangement, when the finger F is in deliveryposition, its guide eye E occupies substantially the same identicalposition on the throat plate as the guide eye E of the finger F when thelatter is in its operative position, so that accurate plating of thebody yarn over either splicing yarn is assured in the same way as withthe preferred construction of Figs. 1 to 4.

In Figs. 8 to '10 a still further modification is illustrated whereinthe guide eye portion 15 of the finger F is made as a separate part butis connected to the body portion of the finger F by means of a springmember 16, such spring member being biased to swing the part 15laterally into the normal plane of movement of the finger F The part 15may be provided with a cam surface 1'7 and the finger F may be furnishedwith cam surfaces similar to those shown in Figs. 6 and 6* abovedescribed, such cam surfaces acting to prevent interference betweenportions of the fingers F and F as such fingers are moved into and outof action.

While I have herein disclosed certain desirable embodiments of means forsecuring the desired result, that is to say, for insuring accuratelysimilar feed of any of a plurality of yarns, I wish it to be understoodthat the invention is not to be limited to these specific constructions,nor ,by the specific purpose or function of the yarns so fed, nornecessarily to the employment of but one laterally moving guide-but isto be regarded as broadly inclusive of any equivalent means whereby thesame or similar result is attained, and that changes in size, proportionand shape of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. It is also clear that the invention is not necessarily to beapplied to a machine of the particular type herein disclosed orspecifically referred to, but is applicable in its broader aspect to anyknitting machine wherein a plurality of independently movable yarnguides are employed.

I claim:

1. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a guide for abody yarn, a pair of guides for other yarns, and means to move either ofsaid latter guides at will relatively to the body yarn guide intoacommon feeding position, whereby to ensure like association of either ofsaid other yarns with the body yarn.

2. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a guide for afacing yarn, a pair of independent guides for backing yarns, meansoperative to support said latter guides side by side in position todeliver. their yarns simultaneously but at different lead angles, andmeans operative to move either of said backing yarn guides at will intoa common plane substantially normal to the row of needles and parallelto individual needles and to a given point in such plane at apredetermined distance from the needles, whereby to ensure likeassociation of either backing yarn with the facing yarn.

3. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising independentlymovable yarn guides operative at will simultaneously to feed each of aplurality of yarns to the needles from different delivery points andwith different lead angles respectively, means operative to remove oneof said guides from its delivery position so as to throw its yarn out ofaction, and means operative to cause another of said guides to shiftfrom its first delivery position to that of the yarn guide which hasbeen so removed.

4.'Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pair ofguide members independently'movable in planes substantially parallel tothe needles, each having a yarn delivery eye, a member constituting asupport for each of said guide members when in operative yarn feedingposition, said supporting member having an edge over which the yarnpasses from the active guide to the needles, and means operative to moveeither of said guide members alternatively so as to position its guideeye at substantially the same spot relative to said support, whereby theyarn from either eye passes over the same point on the edge of thesupport on its way to the needles.

5. Yarn feeding mechanism for kniting machines of the kind having yarnguides arranged in a series extending along the needle row, said machinecomprising a member having a feed throat opening provided with a fioorwhose inner edge is disposed closely adjacent to the needle row and overwhich yarn reeves in passing to the needles, and means operativealternatively to place either of a group of the yarn guides in activedelivery position upon the floor of said throat opening, while movingother guides of the group out of action, the delivery end of any guideof said group when in active position being at substantially the samedistance from the inner edge of the fioor and at the same distance fromthe lateral end of the throat opening, whereby yarn from either guidewill reeve over the same point on said inner edge of the fioor inpassing to the needles.

6. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a guide for abody yarn, a pair of guides for plating yarns, all of said guides beingmounted to permit swinging movement to and from operative position insubstantially parallel planes, a member having a feed throat openingprovided with a floor over an edge of which the yarn reeves on its wayto the needles, and means to cause the delivery ends of each of saidplating guides to occupy a common position in the throat opening whendelivering yarn to the needles, whereby each plating yarn will reeveover the same point on the edge of said floor, thereby ensuring similarassociation of each plating yarn with the body yarn in the knitted fab-IlC.

7. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pluralityof yarn guide fingers, means providing a substantially horizontalpivotal axis for each of said fingers, one at least of said fingersbeing pivoted to swing laterally as it is rocked upwardly or downwardlyabout the axis of its pivot from inoperative to operative-position, andconstantly acting means tending to swing said yarn finger so as to carryits delivery end substantially into the osition previously occupied byan adjacent finger when the latter was in its delivery position.

8. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pluralityof independently movable yarn guide eyes each adapted to occupy erativeposition.

9. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pluralityof movable yarn guide fingers each having a yam delivery end, thedelivery end portion of one finger being movable relatively to thefinger proper, and means tending to cause said movable delivery end toswing into the yarn delivery position of the delivery end of an adjacentguide when the latter is in its inoperative position.

10. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pluralityof yarn guide fingers each having a yarn delivery end, the delivery endportion of one finger being hinged to swing laterally relatively to theplane of movement of the finger proper, and means for swinging saidhinged end laterally as the finger is moved from inoperative toward itsoperative position.

11. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pair ofyarn guide fingers mounted for movement in substantially parallel planesfrom inoperative to operative position,

means tending'to move the delivery end portion' of one of said fingersinto the normal delivery position of the second finger, and cam means onone .of said fingers operative as the second finger is moved to itsdelivery position to remove the delivery end of the first finger fromsaid position.

12. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pair ofyarn guide fingers mounted to permit them to swing in substantiallyparallel vertical planes, resilient means tending to move the deliveryend portion of one finger laterally into the normal delivery position ofthe second finger as the first finger is swung toward its operativeposition while the second finger is in inoperative position, and

means operative to restore the delivery end portion of the first fingerto a plane parallel to the body portion of the second finger as thesecond finger is moved to its delivery position.

13. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pair ofyarn guide fingers each having a yarn delivery-end, means for movingsaid fingers to and from yarn delivery position, the delivery endportion of one finger at least being-movable laterally relatively to thefinger proper, and spring means tending to move said delivery endportion laterally as the finger proper is moved toward its operativeposition.

14. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pluralityof movable yarn guide fingers each having a yarn delivery end, and meansfor moving the fingers to and from delivery position, the delivery endportion 0! one finger at least being connected to the body 'portion ofthe finger by a resilient yielding member which is biased to move saiddelivery end portion laterally of the finger proper asthe latter movestoward its operative position.

15. Yarn feeding mechanism forknitting machines comprising a pluralityof movable yarn guide fingers each having a yarn delivery end, means formoving the fingers toward and from delivery position, the delivery endportion of one finger at least being hinged to swing laterallyrelatively to the finger proper, and spring means tending to swing saidend portion laterally as the finger is moved toward its operativeposition.

16. Yarn feeding mechanism comprising a pair of yarn guide fingersmounted to permit them to swing in substantially vertical parallelplanes; means tending to move the delivery end portion of one fingerlaterally into the normal delivery position of the end portion of thesecond finger as the first finger is moved into its operativeposition,and cam means carried by one at least of said fingers for crowding thedelivery end portion of the first finger laterally back into a planeparallel with the second finger as the second finger moves towarddelivery position.

1'7. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pair ofyarn guide fingers mounted to permit them to move in substantiallyparallel planes, spring means tending to move the delivery end portionof one of said guide fingers laterally into the plane of the otherfinger, and cam means carried by one finger at least and operative asthe fingers are moved relatively from operative to inoperative positionand vice versa to restore said delivery end portion of .the first fingerto a plane substantially parallel with that of the second finger.

18. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pair ofyarn guide fingers pivoted to permit them to swing in substantiallyparallel planes in moving from operative to inoperative position,yieldable means tending to move the delivery end portion of one fingerlaterally into the plane of the second finger, and

cam means comprising opposed inclined surfaces on one of said fingers atleast operative to move the delivery end portion of the first finger outof the plane of the second finger as the latter'is moved toward deliveryposition.

19. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising a series ofmovable yarn guiding fingers which in idle position lie in planessubstantially parallel to the needles, pivot means for one at least ofsaid fingers, said latter finger having a bearing opening so shaped asto permit the finger to rock in a plane radial to the axis of the pivotand also to swing laterally with respect to said radial plane, meansconstantly tending to swing said finger laterally whereby to cause itsdelivery end to lie substantially in the plane of an adjacent finger,means constraining the latter finger to move always in the same plane,means to move the several fingers independently toward and fromoperative position, and means operative as said pivoted finger is rockedto carry its delivery end to inoperative position to move the deliveryend of the pivotal finger out of the plane of said adjacent finger.

20. Yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines comprising meansoperative to cause three or more yarns to be delivered simultaneously,all from different points relative to the descending needle hooks at theknitting wave, and alternatively acting means operative to cause one ofa pair of said yarns to be removed from delivery position and to ceasefeeding and concomitantly to shift the second of said pair of yarns tothe delivery point previously occupied by the yarn which was removed,whereby to insure similarpositioning of either selected one of said pairof yarns with reference to a third yarn in the knitted fabric.

HARRY SWINGLEHURST.

